Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze - Mario's Level Design, Evolved
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 พ.ค. 2024
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Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is platforming level design at its best. By taking Nintendo’s level design philosophy to the next level, Retro Studios made a handful of incredible stages that all modern platformers should be judged against.
Further Viewing
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze - Level Design | Turbo Button
• Donkey Kong Country: T...
Games shown in this episode (in order of appearance)
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Retro Studios, 2014)
New Super Mario Bros. U (Nintendo, 2012)
Donkey Kong Country (Rare, 1994)
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest (Rare, 1995)
Donkey Kong Country Returns (Retro Studios, 2010)
New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo, 2006)
New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Nintendo, 2009)
New Super Mario Bros. 2 (Nintendo, 2012)
Super Mario 3D World (Nintendo, 2013)
Rayman Legends (Ubisoft Montpellier, 2013)
Super Meat Boy (Team Meat, 2010)
N++ (Metanet Software, 2015)
Sonic Generations (Sonic Team, 2011)
Shovel Knight (Yacht Club Games, 2014)
Music used in this episode
Mangrove Cove (Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze)
Athletic Theme (New Super Mario Bros. U)
Ground Theme (New Super Mario Bros. U)
DK Island Swing (Donkey Kong Country)
Horn Top Hop (Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze)
Cannon Canyon ( (Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze)
Dynamite Dash (Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze)
Scorch ’n’ Torch (Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze)
Juicy Groove (Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze)
Windmill Hills (Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze)
Alpine Incline (Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze)
Sparkling Waters (New Super Mario Bros. U)
Title Screen (Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze)
Bramble Scramble (Donkey Kong Country 2)
Contribute translated subtitles - amara.org/v/C3BEz/ - เกม
It's a shame a lot of people think that Retro degraded itself because of the Donkey Kong Country games, because it's just the opposite.
Agreed. Speaking as someone who spent over a decade straight counting _Metroid Prime_ as his favorite game of all time (and whose favorite overall series ever is still _Metroid), Tropical Freeze_ blows all three _Prime_ games completely out of the water. It's not even a contest.
agreed... I personally think that returns and tropical freeze are the best games that I've ever played
"I can't believe this studio worked on this long-forgotten series instead of the forgotten series I prefer!"
Craig Adams ?
@@lilylopnco It's part of the reason why this game took a hit in sales. "Another donkey kong game" is the quote that damaged this game.
"It feels like the level designers are in a constant arms-race to outdo one another."
They ARE! In an Iwata Asks for DKCR, Retro said they made their levels by competing amongst themselves and ranking their creations. They used their own internal critiques to refine each level, and I'm sure they did the same with this game.
That’s genius, and also hilarious
DKCR was hard compared to this one. I’m sure there were a few challenging stages in Tropical Freeze, but MY GOD, there were a number of levels in DKCR that had me pulling my hair.
Dunnex V yeah I’m replaying through returns and I indeed did not remember it being so far from tropical freeze’s level of difficulty.
So... many... pits......
@@lightbrand_ Returns is not much more difficult at all, besides maybe the Rocket and minecart levels in normal mode, but then in hard mode, Tropical freeze is overall harder because no checkpoints.
legrandliseur tri i do not factor hard mode into the picture because it’s something you unlock only after doing 100%, and besides, although Returns’s mirror mode does leave checkpoints intact, you can only play as DK and with stages being reversed it’s a bit more confusing, but yeah hard/mirror mode is another discussion, main game of returns is harder than Tropical freeze and i don’t think you can argue with that
"Mario, my sweet, beautiful boy."
_-Mark Brown, 2017_
Seriously sounds like something a certain McElroy brother would say.
Supertron Its his 1-UP boy
@ 10:36
OwO what's this?
Mark Brown is actually princess peach confirmed.
Cheers for the shout-out you absolute legend. More people need to play this super overlooked platformer.
actually same hehe
I was worried he was going to talk about Harvest Hazards without mentioning you.
Holy crap just checked out you're channel. Great work man. Quality content. Subscribed
I on the other hand, was expecting him to mention TB. Mark is really a breeze of fresh air in video game essays.
Even if it's really good, that doesn't matter because no one is going to buy an entire console to play this one game. They need to release this for Switch.
Remember when gamespot gave this game a 6 for being "bland, uninspired levels and poor backgrounds"
this should have been a much bigger controversy than the IGN "too much water" review
@@WildPork yeah if ign gave it a 6 i couldn't imagine how much backlash they would've got
At least they had the decency to admit their mistake and gave the Switch version a 9.
Remember everyone; if it isnt Mario, it sucks
@@ctpp64 Nsmbu exists
Something that might be fun to explore is the idea of "flow" in a 2d platformer. The idea that a level encourages you to move forward at all times, and rewards you for being on the edge the whole time. Donkey Kong and Dust Force do that well, but I think the best example is Rayman Legends, I can't count how many times I felt like a speedrunner in that game through natural gameplay.
I love that game to death, probably my favorite platformer out there.
linkthegreen234 Agreed -- this would have to come up if he looks at Rayman Legends. The levels are paced way more quickly than MARIO or Donkey Kong, making you feel like a speed runner as you say
"[...] but I think the best example is Rayman Legends, I can't count how many times I felt like a speedrunner in that game through natural gameplay." - I couldn't put that to words any better. :-)
I was about to mention that game, i havent played it in a while, but the different interacting themes really remind me of it
The Bit Trip Runner series is another fantastic example of this as you are constantly moving forward through the level and you have to make quick decision inputs depending on what sort of enemy or barricade is up ahead. I highly recommend it if you haven't played it before.
It's very weird to see a DK game going relatively unnoticed, even more after the success that DKC Returns was, maybe it was the console it was launched on, or because people expected a Metroid game from Retro Studios. Tropical Freeze is arguably the best DK game, and i hope the Switch gets a new title as good too.
I really think it's mostly because it launched on the Wii U. Even I'm guilty of overlooking it, although it's more because I bought a Wii U very late in its' life cycle, and then eventually sold it to help pay for my Switch, hoping that the few Wii U games I missed out on would get ported, Tropical Freeze included. It's a bit of a shame, because the Wii U really did have a lot of fantastic games, more than a lot of people think. Unfortunately, quite a few of those titles were completely overlooked because of the low console sales, and people being unwilling to buy one due to the reputation it garnered.
Anyway, I'll definitely be picking the Switch version up in the next few weeks, and I seriously can't wait to play it!
Well... a port.
Cries in Bioshock
Yeah, and if only they’d actually use Donkey Kong’s enemy, the Kremlings, we could get a new perfect DK game.
lemmingscanfly5 we don’t need to pander to nostalgia to make good games...
Although I guess it helps
What's that, another criminally underated game on the Wii-U? DK Tropical Freeze is arguably one of the best platform games ever made and with a soundtrack that in my opinion is David Wise best output. Absolutely sensational game highlighted by an amazing video. Great stuff as always Mark.
Clocked It i agree
Thankfully it's coming on switch
Absolutely, rarely any modern game makes me question my nostalgic biases of old games. They are still master pieces but man... i think retro did beat rare at its own game, pun intended.
2023 here and this title remains a golden standard, to a point where I believe Super Mario Bros Wonder took a bit of inspiration from it (it’s a marvelous platformer as well btw). Looking forward to the next DKC entry, and Wise has to be back as composer again
This game is fucking gold.
Can we all just agree this game is amazing. Every stage is fun, epic... And my Lord that World 6. If you played Returns, World 6 means a lot more, it's basically a remake of highlights from that entire game in just one world with ice physics, and these ice physics are actually good. David Wise's music=TOP.
Shit yeah, the first time I heard that Snomads theme as I went back into the Kong Hut in 6-1 hit hard
I'd say this game should be listed as having the best level design out of any platformer ever, but it does have a problem with how much of a crutch Dixie can end up being. She can suck a lot of the intensity out of sections and can make solo DK feel powerless. She's completely optional, but I would be more confident saying this is the best platform game of all time if it only had Diddy and crankys mechanics with funky as a clear easy mode
@@davidolinger3948 Dixie was basically the casual mode, there was no need for Funky. Plus, she rarely is the most practical option for time attack, so I'm ok with her.
@@legrandliseurtri7495 I am too, but even the tiniest of problems have to be considered when saying a game is the best of all time for it's genre. I just wish she didn't change the rythm of landing on platforms on harder stages so much
Wow, what you said about the fruity juice island from Tropical Freeze just blew me away... :O I already knew that the stages were amazing and filled with unique gimmicks, but I had never thought they'd go to the extent of making the entire world progress in such a logical way. :D
"Mario Evolved"
reject mushroomity, return to Donke
Tropical freeze blew me away. The levels always looked and felt fresh and the high difficulty while frustrating at times keept me encouraged. It really is a shame so few people picked it up.
Now it’s coming to the Switch! I’m so excited since i was never able to pick it up on the Wii U and now i can.
Me too! That's why I'm here
I heard that Tropical Freeze was good, but now I have seen the magic of this game! So excited to play this on the Switch when it releases in May!
AwesomeToes good luck dude. This is possibly my favorite platformer.
Jimmy John Joe It’s definitely my favorite 2D platformer.
just two more days.
One of my favorite games of all time. I can't believe how underrated / overlooked this game seems to be. I was a huge fan of the original SNES DKC trilogy and while I enjoyed Returns, this game was DKC perfection.
I've never clicked a video so fast.
snomaN Gaming Hey! You're the other guy that does these analysis videos! I just wanna shout out and say awesome stuff! You too, @Mark Brown! :D Loved the Zelda series!
The only other time is when you upload....
;).
You and Mark are the sweetest gaming youtubers by far. Keep up the good analysis ;)
I've never liked a comment so fast.
I was so happy when I saw this video
Tropical Freeze is one of my favourite games of all time and is one of the most sorely overlooked Nintendo games ever. Everybody needs to play this game!
I've often heard that _Tropical Freeze_ is among the best platformers made. I had no idea it was _this_ good! I looked over it because as much as I enjoyed _Donkey Kong Country Returns_ I expected it to be more of the same. I didn't know I was so wrong!
Yes! This, 100%. This is hands down my favorite 2d platformer ever.
Evenmoresteven you have absolute shit tastes. Your opinion is utter garbage
Aww, little babby is mad not everybody thinks DKC2 is the best one.
+King Bradberry That's a nice meme you got there.
King Bradberry I don't agree with him either but you have no idea how childish you sound
dkc2 cannot be topped
Game makers toolkit :explains why dk tropical freeze has a phenomenal level design
Gamespot:UNiMagINaTivE lEveL DeSIGn
The way you explained that Mario level made it sound boring as hell and it’s kind of hilarious.
One of my favorite platforming levels is actually from Tropical Freeze. Busted Bayou is one of the first secret levels you unlock, and it's incredible. I love the theme of wrecked planes in the forest that really comes to a head here, it's a silhouette level, and it has some of the best music in the game.
Not to mention you can see Samus' ship in the background as well
irwegwert one of my favorite music tracks in the game, no less.
2:52 "The entire level REVOLVES around these water wheels." GET IT? REVOLVES?!
DKCTF is my favorite 2D platformer of all time so it's supper awesome to see you do a video on it.
I see what you did at 0:12
& Knuckles
I know many people are a bit irked at the amount of Wii U ports the Switch is getting, but if there's any game that deserves to be on the Switch, it's this game! It's really criminal that such a masterpiece went unnoticed. The Switch already has a ton of users, so giving this game a new chance on this console would be surely appreciated. Heck, right now I feel like the Switch is kinda lacking on tight platformers (a rare sight on any Nintendo hardware), aside from Shovel Knight. Hopefully we get to see this wonderful game rise from obscurity, I'm sure I'd pick it up for the Switch.
Ever since Nintendo stopped releasing a Super Mario game at the launch of their consoles, most of their consoles have been starting off without tight platformers.
I wonder what Retro Studios is up to now, especially since it's not Prime 4. Whatever it is, I'm excited for it, Retro has my trust because of games like this one and the Prime Trilogy.
I really do hope it's a follow up to tropical freeze. They are the only studio I feel can carry on the same role as Rare had in the SNES and N64 days.
SillyRobot822 I hope its a third Dk game with Tropical Freeze included like bayoneta + B2 on WiiU
A DK 3D game, no?
they just announced Prime 4? is retro not making it?
Hope it's a new IP
And you didn't even touch on the fact the levels are layered to account for different paths and secrets using different kongs and their abilities. Such an amazing game.
What a wonderful video. Retro, please, listen, we want DK in Switch.
Tell that to everyone who didn't buy this game, not Retro.
+Jacob Drenski
Returns sold 4.96 million copies, and Nintendo didn't publish Tropical Freeze's sales numbers after it passed 130 000
Switch
Funky Funko
Aaaaaaand wish granted! a tropical freeze port was confirmed in the latest direct.
Ever since I played it, I knew it was one of my favorite games, and that it was probably my favorite DKC game. But after watching this video, I realized why. I hadn't noticed all the cool things it does with its levels, but at the same time, I could feel while playing it that it had an awesome level design, especially combined with the music. Great video!
donkey kong returns and tropical freeze are my two favorite platforming game in the world. And i play a lot of platorming games.
These games deserve recognition indeed.
Well, then celeste happened x)
Tropical Freeze succeeds as a Donkey Kong game because it recreates what was most appealing about the old DKC games: spectacle. Whereas the SNES games did this with killer graphics and sound for the time, TF does this through bombastic level design, swooping camera angles, and more emphasis on how DK's strength can affect the level's mechanics. It's great how Retro "gets" DKC and reinterprets its spirit in the current day.
It's so strange but awesome that I keep seeing all these videos describing how great and underplayed Tropical Freeze was. The game came out in 2014 and it's finally getting the attention it deserves! What gives??
Metroid people, that's what was up, fucking assholes
The transition to animate showing a TH-cam channel at 6:27 is the single greatest video transition ive ever seen. It's really simple but so well done. Really nice work.
I'm glad someone said it. Tropical Freeze is an insanely great game. Top 20 all time stuff for sure (at least for me!). Every level feels like an unique and overflowing adventure AND it's ACTUALLY challenging! Which can be unusual for nintendo!
It's not Nintendo though
... sad face i just dont get it to me dkc and dkc2 were the best then dkc3 happen and sweet hell it just got worse dkcr and tropical freeze. i hate the new dkc titles with every fiber of my being. the graphics the music the clunky delayed feeling controls all really generic and over all cheap looking/feeling. i wonder weather every one that says these are good games ever really played the 1st 2 dkc titles properly....
@@rachelb.684 retro studios IS Nintendo. They’re just a different division of Nintendo.
@@roastytoasty8559kong issue
Always great to see this unsung masterpiece gets its due recognition. Playing Tropical Freeze for the first time felt like rediscovering video games. I'm immensely eager to find out what Retro has been working on since they completed this gem, and if it's "just" another Donkey Kong Country game, sign me up.
For me, the best platformer ever created. I'm praying for a Switch release just so a wider audience can experience this title. Quite unfair that it had to release on the WiiU to such a small audience!
This game caught me by surprise so hard. Genuinely got to be one of the all-time great 2D platformers.
Thank you for covering this game! DKC is my favorite franchise of all time and Tropical Freeze bringing back Dixie and David Wise made it one of the most exciting gaming announcements of my life. Come to find that the game improved on DKCR in every way and shows that there's still plenty of juice left in both the DKC games and platformers in general easily makes it my favorite game on the Wii U and lands right next to DKC2 as my favorite game in the series.
after watching this video, it's always fun to go watch Gamespot's review of the game where the reviewer bemoans the "derivative level design". Perfectly sums up video game journalists and what little they actually know about video games.
I think the big problem with Tropical Freeze is that at the time it didn't seem to be terribly exciting. Like, yeah reception to Returns was good but this just seemed to be more of the same and the addition of Cranky and Dixie wasn't enough to catch people's interest.
Now that more time has passed people have had the time to get hungry for a donkey kong game and sink their teeth into it, and many have said since then that it's one of the best donkey kong platformers.
wish i could play it myself but i don't have a wii u...
I think what makes these videos so amazing are that they're very informative and Mark's voice gives a somewhat serious tone to the whole thing, solidifying that he has done his research on these games (the little credits whenever he shows footage of a game, reminiscent of citations in formal documents really boost the reliability aspect of these videos)
and at the same time, the little jokes and references thrown in every now and again (0:13 10:06 10:35) breaks up and prevents the video from becoming too formal and boring. I feel like this style is similar to 8:47 where these jokes don't serve the purpose of the video, but they break it up and not let it become too samey.
Keep up the good work, Mark. These videos are awesome.
This is like Game Maker's Toolkit Toolkit and I love it, thanks!
God, I love this game so much, and as usual, you do a great job at explaining some reasons that it's so great. The tepid reaction to it from the gaming media was an absolute crime. Only an 83 on Metacritic (which isn't bad for most games, mind you, but is insulting for a game that could easily be argued to be the best 2D platformer of all time), wasn't really considered for any GotY awards, and even its godlike soundtrack was left off most soundtrack of the year lists. It kinda felt like there was a vendetta against it due to a mix of, "Ugh, another 2D platformer from Nintendo? When will they give us some proper 3D games?" and, "What do you mean Retro is making another Donkey Kong instead of a new Metroid?" and just generally not really caring about the Wii U.
I hope they port it to the Switch so it gets a second chance, both in reviews and sales.
PopulusLove I don't even think it's about the modern era. It's just that TF came out during a time when people weren't very happy with Nintendo, and it colored the reception of the game.
I think if it came out today, it would have a much warmer reception. Nintendo just gave us an amazing open world Zelda, with a similarly amazing looking 3D sandbox Mario in just a few months, so people don't feel like Nintendo's only putting out 2D platformers and not satisfying the itch for big, deep, open 3D games. Metroid Prime 4 has been announced, as well as Samus Returns, so they wouldn't feel like DK was taking away their Metroid just by existing. And people seem to actually really like the Switch unlike the Wii U, which is something that I think can subconsciously sway someone's opinion.
Kevin Stevens i absolutely agree with you, and let's also consider 2D platformers and platformers in general are making kind of a comeback, not just Nintendo, but indies, Sony and even Microsoft, maybe people wouldn't see Tropical Freeze as "just another 2D game from Nintendo" again.
Don't forget the criticism for not using gamepad.
And also the nostalgy of snes compromise the evaluations. Like not having enough sidekick animals
Just announced for the Switch! hopefully it will get the attention it deserves this time!
Finally the most innovative and overlooked platformer ever made is getting it's recignition. CRIMINALLY UNDERRATED gem that does more in a few stages that make your mouth drop open than most platformer games accomplish in an entire game. I was one of the people upset that retro wasn't doing a new metroid game when this was announced, but I bought it right after release and was caught up in it for the next several weeks
I really hope you give Rayman Legends some proper treatment. It does some really cool things Origins doesn't do. Origins is harder sure, but it lacks the flow that Legends has. Legends shows this off in it's music levels, but that flow is actually present throughout the game. In fact, that's why they only give you one life, to help you learn to do levels in a single go, and get a feel for that flow, and once you manage that it's super fun. Origins doesn't quite find it's identity I feel, and as such the levels don't quite flow and you sometimes have to kind of go out of your way, which kills that flow.
I also feel that the murphy levels are actually bad on the Wii U, but brilliant on, say, the Xbox. They add a dynamic to the levels that actually super cool, but it's kind of awkward in the first few levels. Once it starts flowing with the game and the levels get harder (it's worth trying the competitive online randomly generated mode to really appreciate this), you realize murphy is just a way to adjust the levels as you play them. That's a crazy good idea. It's not implemented perfectly, but for the most part it's great. Some of the roman levels are amazing because of this, and I'm sad that that quick management of skills is not present in pretty much any other game. Because it's genius.
Also, people say Origins is harder, and...I mean it is...kind of? Legends starts out easier, and it has a bit less content, but it gets way way harder, and especially if you want to do well (such as doing the short savior missions), the finesse it requires is beyond anything Origins ever required.
Chettlar I agree with nearly everything you said, but Murphy is waaaay better in the WiiU Version, especially in multiplayer.
I rate this analysis so highly, Origins really never did find it's identity lol
I can deal with invasion levels, but those dark rayman ones especially the one in 20,000 lums under the sea killed me about 200 times before I realised that it was about flow, not necessarily avoiding dark rayman. 10/10 game. Mario can take the backseat.
Hell yeah, this game's getting a second chance! Don't let it pass you by again on the Switch, people!
... I question the universe sometimes. Just as you said, "Donkey Kong Country, Tropical-..." my computer froze. Blue screened, dead, needed to repair itself. 10/10 video, would get a psychic reading again.
Hey Mark, I started to notice the brilliant level design in this game after watching your video about 1-1 mario bros. For instance at 10:05 that's not just background, it tells you about a new enemy in the next level that can eat you from afar. Also when you dive into the time attacks you'll notice that it is not only designed for casual playthrough, coop and hard platforming (kong stages) but also a tremendous speedgame.
Sure it's easy to compare platformers to each other, but there's something you have to remember. Mario and DKC are made with two different purposes in mind. Mario games only explore one or two concepts per level because they are intentionally shorter and easier, making the game more accessible to players of all skill levels. Mario games are amazing because they don't overwhelm the beginner, while also being so well thought out that a master at a Mario level can easily be picked out from among the crowd. DKC was not made to be accessible, it was made to be bonkers. And this is reflected in every part of each level's design. The levels are longer, the concepts explored have both more depth and breadth, the game itself is visually and audibly stunning, and most of the levels are more challenging. These were intentional choices that molded the atmosphere of DKC into exactly what the developers wanted. The same can be said about Mario. So before you compare two amazing platformers and say one is better than the other, think about the purpose behind each of them, and see if each one completed that purpose, rather than pit them against each other.
P.S. I agree with you completely in regards to New Super Mario games feeling a little lazy, that's why I appreciated Super Mario 3D Land/World and (hopefully) will appreciate Super Mario Odyssey. I have been and always will be a die-hard Nintendo fan, but even by my standards there appears to be a Nintendo renaissance of sorts going on right now and it's amazing!
Tropical Freeze is a phenomenal game. Since Metroid Prime 4 is being made by another team, I hope Retro Studios is working on another Donkey Kong platformer. Preferably a 3D one, but I'll take a third Country style game.
Totally agree on attempting a new 3d DK. I understand their apprehension due to the first try on the 64 being not so great, but I think DK has seriously big potential in 3d if they approach it from a different direction. I'd love to see a focus on vine swinging, that captures the magic that was Spider-Man 2's webslinging, for instance.
Aaron Schmitz the way To go should be mario 3D world, that style fits perfect for Donkey kong
I'd prefer another 2D game just so we can cap off another trilogy, and then a 3D one.
Although, if Nintendo wants to be topical, a 3D DK game now would be the way to go, considering all the other 3D games that are being released.
The way this game is designed really reminds me of Rayman Legends. The background, the spectacle, the creativeness. It’s like the game designers were like “fuck it lets just go wild”
Tropical Freeze is one of my top 5 favorite games of all time. It’s the only game that I been able to show my dad and that he actually enjoyed watching me play.
Shoutouts to Bopopolis, which you showed a few times but never name dropped. A wickedly hard level, and one I'll never forget.
All around Tropical Freeze is a brilliant game. Glad to see it get some much needed love. Great video, Mark.
Hope there is a switch port. Your videos are awesome Mark!
I'd love a Switch port of this game. Maybe with more levels!
WELL
F U N K Y M O D E
I have all big platformers on switch. But topical freeze is the one game my son and me always come back to. It's just a perfect game for us. Sad, it didn't get the recognition it deserves. Even sadder there is no sequel.
As a fan of the DKC series and DK you've really done DKCTF a lot of justice! Well done!
Retro Studios, man. They know how to make games.
I wish you could analyse the original DKC Returns and how it revived the 2D platformer after so many years, since the SNES era.
I thought that game was mind blowing when I played it, with so much creativity, charm, personality, excellent design, and difficulty
Lupinthe64th Revived? Did you look how many of these come out on steam every day for the past 5 years or so? You have to be a nin only child, boy are you shortsighted.
@@bazzy5644 While I do love Returns, I do have to agree with you, it wasn't the first to bring back awesome 2D platformers
So is it THIS Retro Studios, in terms of the general people that are involved, that are working on Metroid Prime 4? Because that's exciting.
Thank you for posting this. When the game came out, I tried my darnedest to spread the word. DKCTF was, and is, a transcendent platformer. My favourite Wii U game.
I hope it gets ported to Switch alongside a new DKC so more people can play it.
You highlighted everything I loved about this game, the themes and varying ideas in each level gave this game a life no other platformer could hope to have, the story was told visually and through David Wise's wonderful score. Retro achieved that sort of visual storytelling with the Metroid Prime games and I really love it.
What were your favourite levels?
Three years late, but my favorite level is probably fruity factory.
Wonderful video. To me Tropical Freeze is the best 2D platformer ever. Brilliant game!
I love the alliteration in these stage names! 💎
This kind of level desing was actually pulled of by Sonic Team 20 years ago in Sonic Adventure 2
Theres a level in that game called "Pyramid Cave" in which you have multiple gimmicks to play around with. First you have a Sand Clock which when you activate opens a door that you have to reach in a time limit, then you have Giant rings which you are introduced at the start and you learn that they give you extra points, and then you have poles which you where introduced in City escape and you can use to do some crazy jumps that allow for other paths in the level.
I seriously love how seemlesly this level locates its assets like all Sonic stages do. The level puts its assets in a way that the level has flow but also it dosent feel like an obstacle course, it feels like a real environment. That aside, all of the mechanics in the level are first introduced individually and then in conguntion with one another. First you see the giant rings which are restricted to a hallway with walls you can run on, at first you have some easy to reach giant rings and then you have some giant rings that may take a bit more thinking on how to reach. Then after that section you collect some rings and see the first clock which you have to homing attack to activate, and in front of you a door opens linking the doors with the key. Then yo have some poles which if you fail at doing a acrobatic on them you will be sent to another path, but if you succed you will land in another pole and you have the oportunity to do a trick into the clock in front of you and continue on. I could give more examples but this is confusing enough.
What a great video. I recently re-played this game and I loved it just as I did the first time, but watching your video makes me appreciate the game even more. I really hope we get another installment.
Tropical Freeze is a masterpiece. Retro made me cry in some levels, for the first time i had a Donkey Kong Country game actually better if compared with the original trilogy by Rare. And i always say that Nintendo could learn from Retro for the next Mario 2d platformer.
DKC: Tropical Freeze > DKC 2 > DKC > DKC 3 > DKC Returns
I almost bought a Wii U for this game (Donkey Kong Country was one of my faves as a kid and DKCR on Wii was fantastic)... But alas, I was waiting and waiting for "Zelda U".... and then ended up just getting a Switch. Now I'm left yearning for a few of the great Wii U games I never got to play. MK8D has been a blast, hopefully Nintendo see it sell well enough to bring more Wii U games over.
Grats, it's just been confirmed for Switch.
This game is worth every penny, buy this shit as soon as it hits shelves.
Tropical Freeze quickly became my favorite 2D Platformer. It's a masterpiece. Brilliant soundtrack too.
As soon as I saw this in my sub-box I dropped everything and immediately watched the video! Your content is so high quality.
I sometimes rewatch your videos four to five times and I'm still intrigued by them!
Keep it up, Mark!
Level design is such an overlooked art form
Tropical Freeze has been announced for Switch. Let the dancing in the streets begin!
2:50 "The whole stage revolves around these waterwheels."
I see what you did there
As someone who has been a die-hard Donkey Kong Country fan ever since receiving the original for xmas back in '94, it does my heart good to see someone shining a light on this sadly overlooked gem. My personal favorite Wii U game, bar none.
I also feel you are spot on with your assessment of the modern Mario games. I'm really hoping the creativity on display in Odyssey carries on in the games to follow.
Yea donkey kong actually has the nicest levels, they're all so immersive
Isn't it ironic that the main take off of IGN's low rating Review of Tropical freeze was that Tropical Freeze brings "nothing new" to the platformer formula?
I couldn't place why that didn't sit right with me until watching this video. Yeah, I very much disagree with that idea. That said, even if the game were just "more Returns", with shorter, simpler levels, Tropical Freeze still has so much going for it that I'm really surprised it got the negativity that it did.
People in general seem to massively undervalue level design when it comes to this. Level design can really change the way we play a game, but if it's not an entirely new mechanic (throwing some kind of RPG element in seems to be the standard,) people will say it's just more of the same
I had to stop and marvel at how slick that editing was on bringing in the TH-cam pages, excellent work. I really need to get around to playing Tropical Freeze, I've got it but it's one of the many games that I've never really gotten around to yet.
I am so glad you finally got around to looking at the design of my favorite game of all time! Tropical Freeze just has this perfect interplay of theme and mechanic, where each plays off each other to make a level which you showed amazingly well. I couldn't have said it any better myself.
This game is a gem💎 one of thee best platformers out there that deserves way more attention
Definitely pro Shovel Knight videos, such an awesome game! Just like Tropical Freeze, which has to be one of the best 2D platformers to date.
Speaking of Donkey Kong, I really like "Blackout Basement", and it worked both as its own "one mechanic, one idea" level and as a culmination of all the other levels in that world.
The theme was simple; every couple of seconds, the lights would go out, and you can't see anything. Well, not quite. You can see yourself, and bananas, but that's it. As annoying as that sounds, the level is very carefully designed so that you have just enough time to see any threats [enemies/pits of doom], and it has a nice ramp in intensity so you have time to acclimate to the mechanic.
Yep also elevator antics uses different ideas as well.
I just want to say that I love it when channels that delve deeper into games have shout-outs to one another. You've helped me discover so many great channels with these simple recommendations.
As many "Featuring Dante from the Devil May Cry Series" memes as I've seen, no one really talks about Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne, the game it came from.
So many missed collectibles, my heart can't take it.
Shhh bb, is ok
Wow, this is one of the best videos I think he has ever made! It was very well organized and extremely interesting. Thanks for making it!
That's the best explanation I've heard of the 2D Mario games, I've always heard people complaining about the series feeling stale but then dismissed it because each level brought something new.
The best 2D plate-former of our time. Easily.
Oh baby a new video!
This is the best 2D platformer of all time.
It being so overlooked completely changed my perception of what it takes to sell a video game. It made me wonder what other masterpieces in plain sight I have missed in the past.
Great video. Everyone needs to play this gem.
Hell yeah, Tropical Freeze is one of my all time favorite games! I'm so glad you're doing an episode on it.
COMING TO SWITCH!!!
"This is one of the least exciting platformers I've played in some time"
-Gamespot
At least they've made a nice review for the switch version, I believe.
Cranky now works for Gamespot
I just absolutely loved the Aquatic Ambiance version from this game. One of the only modern remixes that outperformed its original so hard while staying very faithful to its style.
I still haven't played it, and sadly will probably not be able to play it soon.
I've been watching your videos for about a year now. The first boss keys brought me in, and I went through a lot of your back log. I'm so happy to see someone giving this extremely underrated game credit. I thought it was a must own game on the wii u. I'm hoping for a DKCR and DKCRTF switch combo pack in the future. Your commentary on games had altered my view of game design. Keep up the excellent work.
I'll finally be able to play this on Switch. Thank you Mark for getting me excited! I wouldn't be if it wasn't for this video.
Get ready cause those bosses are going to wreck you.
It's probably the only platformer were i actually had trouble and fun with the boss fights.
Of course defeating them without being hit, was an absolute nightmare.
Yeah I'll be buying this game for a second time on the switch, one of my favorites and now I can take it on the go!! =)
Do you intend on doing a "Game Maker Toolkit" on Kirby? Hal does a fantastic job on designs the Kirby games, especially the bosses, and not many people talk or even know about this
I'd love to see that, for nothing else then to hear other people on why they are so great. Aside from Epic Yarn, which was just incredible, and maybe Super Star, which was very unique due to its structure, the rest of the Kirby games were always in the "pretty good fun" category for me, but never the most memorable or outstanding.
I'd be particularly curious to see a comparison between the Kirby and Klonoa franchises, I can't quite put my finger on why but Klonoa 2 felt pretty Kirby-esque when I played that *double checks release date* good lord 16 years ago or so.
I can't help but agree here. Kirby bosses are great; always really unique and entertaining fights. And the whole franchise does nothing better than putting me in a good mood. I'd definitely be up for some quality analysis.
The thing that's holding it back is its original concept, to make a game easy and accessible to kids. It's not hard enough for many, who are still pining for the days of arcade style difficulty designed to milk every coin from your pocket until you are left with lint.
But the interesting thing about the Kirby series is that for every Kirby game that's a traditional platformer, there's another one that's a weird, unexpected new gameplay experiment. Aside from maybe Mario, no other Nintendo series gets radical departures like Kirby's Air Ride, Epic Yarn, Canvas Curse, Dream Course, Mass Attack, or Tilt n' Tumble with such regularity.
David Wise's soundtrack for Tropical Freeze served me well for my commutes to and from work. I drive on parkways for one of them so the ambiance tends to create a much more relaxing drive.
Great, I was waiting for this video. Your channel is now complete !
I don't remember the name, but the level with the search lights and lasers from Rayman Legends is probably favorite platformer level. It manages to use the game's mechanics to kinda turn it into a stealth game with an awesome part where you got to dodge laser grids.
I think I know the level you're talking about. One that has a sort of Mission Impossible-meets-James Bond vibe to it.
Yeah, yeah, that one! I think one of the princesses that you rescue in that world is suppose to be a spy.
I liked that level as well, it’s flow is amazing, that’s why I like tf a lot, but good choice
I've been dying to try that game out, and now that it's making a comeback on the switch, I'm a happy man.
Fuck yes, you can't possibly regret it.
Only real complaint i have are the freaking water levels.
Great vid! The analyses of the various level designs were very in depth and accurate. I also overlooked Tropical Freeze. I don't know why I overlooked it, but it's my favorite platformer now!
This is my favorite video you've done. Tropical Freeze arrived unwanted and overlooked, but became a cult classic for some of the relatively few who played it.
You show and tell why some found Tropical Freeze so exciting, and illuminate the diverse experiences 2D platformers can offer.